Scottish Executive

Bridges

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding what regular safety checks are made on the structure of the Tay Bridge and how often such checks are made.

Nicol Stephen: Information on this issue is not held by the Executive. This is a matter for the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board who own and operate the bridge.

Dentistry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the consultation Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland .

Mr Tom McCabe: The Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland consultation closed on 2 April. Responses to the consultation have been analysed and the Scottish Executive is now considering its response. We expect to publish this in the autumn.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of each sector of the Scottish economy that is used to calculate Scottish GDP is represented by companies whose corporate headquarters are based in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: Scottish GDP is based on all companies with employment in Scotland, irrespective of where their corporate headquarters are located. It is not possible to identify the percentage of GDP created by companies which have their headquarters located in Scotland.

  Alternative data on the ownership of companies operating in Scotland are available on the Scottish Executive Business Statistics website via the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ETLLD/EI/00018389/page1123668026.aspx.

Environment

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities are enforcing compliance with the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003, with particular reference to raw waste from shellfish processing.

Ross Finnie: Individual local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 within their respective areas. The effect of the regulations is to prohibit the burial or landfill of untreated animal by-products in order to protect public and animal health and the environment. However, where shells have been washed they may be put to alternative uses such as ornamental or drainage use or for the production of aggregates. My officials are in regular contact with local authority staff on enforcement and other issues and I am not aware of any Scottish local authority failing to meet their statutory obligations.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance (a) is currently and (b) will be available in 2004-05 to all farmers whose operations are affected by nitrate vulnerable zone designations.

Ross Finnie: Capital grants at the rate of 40% are currently available to assist farmers in designated nitrate vulnerable zones to install or upgrade storage and handling facilities for slurry, manure and silage effluent. The maximum grant payable to any one business is £34,000. The current application period ends on 31 August 2004, and no decision has yet been made on whether there will be a further tranche.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9398 by Ms Margaret Curran on 13 July 2004, how many homes were purchased under the low-cost home ownership scheme in each of the last five years.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Further to the answer to given question S2W-9398 on 13 July 2004, the following table details how many homes were approved for purchase through the Scottish Executive’s housing investment programme low-cost home ownership schemes in each of the last five years.

  Scottish Executive - Housing Investment Programme - Low Cost Home Ownership Approvals for Purchase (2000-01 to 2004-05) (Number.)

  

2000-01
1,134


2001-02
374


2002-03
623


2003-04 
1,372


2004-051
875



  Note: Planned.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much in total remained outstanding in unpaid fines in each sheriff court district in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of total fines levied.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is shown in the following tables. The values are the total value of imposed fines which have not yet been paid plus any remaining balance on fines which are being paid by instalments. They include compensation and fines transferred from England and Wales as well as fines imposed by the High Court of Justiciary which are recovered by the Sheriff Clerk. Not all of the outstanding balance will be due to fines in default as a large proportion could be within their valid payment period.

  Outstanding Balance - Financial Penalties Imposed - Balance as % of Imposed

  

 
O/S Bal
31/3/99
Imposed
1998-99

%
O/S Bal
31/3/00
Imposed
1999-2000

%
O/S Bal
31/3/01
Imposed
2000-01

%


Aberdeen
534,258
928,576
58
457,679
785,412
58
431,656
716,978
60


Airdrie
314,660
414,870
76
323,260
353,701
91
340,399
384,138
89


Alloa
89,978
126,033
71
79,996
99,927
80
87,803
119,609
73


Arbroath
139,521
225,602
62
120,398
219,885
55
115,798
167,390
69


Ayr
249,424
438,842
57
238,330
344,893
69
254,193
445292
57


Banff
57,301
203,682
28
45,188
194,217
23
77,973
216,623
36


Campbeltown
50,645
55,903
91
44,944
48,576
93
48,201
41,136
117


Cupar
40,063
73,120
55
32,478
86,342
38
45,203
86,927
52


Dingwall
67,616
109,098
62
60,254
84,971
71
55,253
93,420
59


Dornoch
20,671
42,470
49
29,155
150,941
19
27,508
47,453
58


Dumbarton
184,739
253,005
73
216,123
264,493
82
201,231
256,051
79


Dumfries
244,059
381,644
64
213,127
344,720
62
227,680
395,292
58


Dundee
352,420
375,572
94
349,961
493,198
71
372,722
421,263
88


Dunfermline
318,609
341,393
93
285,520
403,522
71
258,921
333,624
78


Dunoon
34,871
56,578
62
28,690
56,671
51
39,889
44,937
89


Duns
22,852
28,883
79
29,290
44,958
65
* N/A
* N/A
*N/A


Edinburgh
1,339,710
1,849,152
72
1,277,953
1,575,272
81
1,544,831
2,099,740
74


Elgin
157,792
264,349
60
198,520
240,586
83
188,274
286,736
66


Falkirk
346,135
395,478
88
385,426
415,156
93
402,623
410,404
98


Forfar
59,254
158,776
37
58,250
141,774
41
57,802
122,576
47


Fort William
49,575
96,860
51
39,828
81,264
49
35,961
66,435
54


Glasgow
2,026,906
1,586,083
128
2,178,475
1,500,533
145
1,926,508
1,172,942
164


Greenock
149,364
201,161
74
178,301
200,251
89
182,060
178,653
102


Haddington
78,764
126,031
62
91,105
127,219
72
77,317
164,543
47


Hamilton
701,142
708,402
99
742,585
634,671
117
641,287
684,758
94


Inverness
173,013
267,969
65
165,184
301,471
55
171,331
262,028
65


Jedburgh
30,703
48,134
64
40,650
74,931
54
70,461
117,703
60


Kilmarnock
582,968
1,011,851
58
479,524
897,157
53
463,117
815,744
57


Kirkcaldy
316,236
365,380
87
264,938
316,599
84
274,792
332,234
83


Kirkcudbright
80,268
114,077
70
73,978
115,327
64
55,315
80,349
69


Kirkwall
41,943
70,292
60
35,281
45,943
77
38,666
50,787
76


Lanark
140,523
251,866
56
127,899
285,279
45
101,119
216,143
47


Lerwick
64,390
117,775
55
38,963
101,757
38
30,374
77,991
39


Linlithgow
336,171
383,688
88
330,036
380,046
87
350,285
415,550
84


Lochmaddy
4,851
19,024
25
2,830
14,650
19
5,572
19,974
28


Oban
47,822
110,413
43
47,763
112,971
42
42,568
99,943
43


Paisley
693,382
670,741
103
587,053
541,997
108
579,736
492,549
118


Peebles
14,480
30,639
47
25,155
28,430
88
15,378
45,303
34


Perth
244,627
358,744
68
217,537
356,694
61
229,480
331,117
69


Peterhead
112,972
198,129
57
87,377
128,545
68
98,281
134,284
73


Portree
9,948
14,565
68
11,258
13,985
81
10,466
13,950
75


Rothesay
11,696
13,590
86
7,482
13,751
54
13,919
17,286
81


Selkirk
36,025
70,696
51
26,329
44,201
60
35,193
69,436
51


Stirling
149,843
234,659
64
109,664
189,336
58
135,943
254,291
53


Stonehaven
40,640
115,698
35
35,680
117,331
30
31,380
85,275
37


Stornoway
39,245
92,449
42
32,993
82,395
40
43,317
60,071
72


Stranraer
170,397
291,554
58
246,409
337,435
73
259,490
278,139
93


Tain
85,062
120,540
71
82,548
121,472
68
82,014
97,381
84


Wick
47,167
97,873
48
49,566
84,446
59
46,786
105,004
45


Totals
11,104,701
14,511,906
77
10,830,935
13,599,299
80
10,826,077
13,429,454
81



  Note: *Figures For Jedburgh & Duns Amalgamated For 2000-01.

  Outstanding Balance - Financial Penalties Imposed - Balance as % of Imposed

  

 
O/S Bal
31/3/02
Imposed
2001-02

%
O/S Bal
31/3/03
Imposed
2002-03

%
O/S Bal
31/3/04
Imposed
2003-04

%


Aberdeen
524,565
1,076,343
49
521,299
1,096,583
48
640,533
1,260,128
51


Airdrie
384,256
407,503
94
340,921
454,624
75
319,253
465,538
69


Alloa
97,113
194,874
50
189,083
202,240
93
222,764
388,609
57


Arbroath
112,063
182,196
62
101,204
189,278
53
140,521
258,795
54


Ayr
269,330
397,301
68
256,498
433,002
59
299,287
545,228
55


Banff
64,709
143,721
45
50,776
173,845
29
56,370
142,191
40


Campbeltown
30,907
43,461
71
30,606
62,675
49
34,681
53,180
65


Cupar
42,832
107,044
40
46,796
109,162
43
54,503
124,827
44


Dingwall
52,019
106,769
49
61,165
109,567
56
72,942
159,972
46


Dornoch
31,985
60,766
53
31,497
43,214
73
37,896
64,753
59


Dumbarton
212,324
245,927
86
222,811
284,139
78
247,815
303,726
82


Dumfries
200,722
358,564
56
235,568
448,011
53
238,104
426,512
56


Dundee
374,870
428,544
87
428,355
488,344
88
487,528
661,929
74


Dunfermline
252,694
321,870
79
300,120
389,372
77
336,086
405,480
83


Dunoon
41,602
57,933
72
49,592
68,152
73
44,034
67,459
65


Duns
59,887
33,553
178
58,636
65,753
89
69,710
74,157
94


Edinburgh
1,556,178
1,831,238
85
2,615,488
2,801,732
93
2,556,130
2,108,646
121


Elgin
221,538
322,124
69
243,445
362,520
67
338,194
469,638
72


Falkirk
407,634
1,403,917
29
523,931
600,570
87
537,528
512,564
105


Forfar
186,752
255,291
73
74,163
150,451
49
80,950
226,551
36


Fort William
42,003
128,421
33
51,570
105,028
49
65,432
128,843
51


Glasgow
2,053,024
1,363,549
151
1,682,540
1,353,975
124
1,639,305
1,489,374
110


Greenock
199,091
186,578
107
240,662
231,454
104
228,833
215,892
106


Haddington
91,308
156,744
58
115,537
226,299
51
123,945
204,645
61


Hamilton
667,649
903,355
74
704,370
981,125
72
733,288
856,159
86


Inverness
199,851
421,798
47
205,158
378,514
54
317,621
576,177
55


Jedburgh
81,984
108,687
75
97,723
111,629
88
101,478
120,578
84


Kilmarnock
509,697
823,220
62
510,198
700,967
73
554,213
758,741
73


Kirkcaldy
297,005
326,270
91
338,723
440,537
77
461,033
536,371
86


Kirkcudbright
53,293
72,377
74
83,353
107,974
77
83,893
110,362
76


Kirkwall
31,349
40,105
78
36,834
110,775
33
37,882
73,431
52


Lanark
86,180
224,604
38
90,418
196,892
46
90,454
186,302
49


Lerwick
28,062
88,600
32
35,426
88,037
40
54,330
118,870
46


Linlithgow
310,300
413,601
75
384,131
560,935
68
353,763
695,755
51


Lochmaddy
5,210
16,740
31
7,215
12,656
57
7,252
19,793
37


Oban
42,019
105,982
40
43,851
96,452
45
68,861
133,267
52


Paisley
577,097
575,434
100
628,463
569,116
110
569,965
662,492
86


Peebles
16,907
55,945
30
29,736
47,487
63
33,561
61,324
55


Perth
269,293
439,545
61
319,689
526,406
61
345,541
641,028
54


Peterhead
109,984
166,627
66
124,981
253,785
49
118,817
513,306
23


Portree
5,282
18,394
29
10,274
22,137
46
11,279
22,723
50


Rothesay
11,058
18,501
60
11,574
16,686
69
11,007
16,874
65


Selkirk
63,733
104,042
61
112,506
121,251
93
106,765
115,953
92


Stirling
134,431
256,692
52
187,519
385,849
49
205,350
358,654
57


Stonehaven
31,832
124,639
26
38,127
95,204
40
39,162
155,646
25


Stornoway
38,204
86,162
44
43,425
99,293
44
62,498
119,070
52


Stranraer
246,695
232,504
106
230,103
220,382
104
161,556
237,310
68


Tain
90,179
129,999
69
80,793
118,767
68
103,894
129,656
80


Wick
117,223
131,266
89
77,517
164,887
47
88,645
189,854
47


Totals
11,533,923
15,699,319
73
12,904,368
16,877,735
76
13,594,453
18,168,329
75

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many police operations in each of the last five years firearms were issued to officers, broken down by police force area.

Hugh Henry: The deployment of firearms is an operational matter for chief constables. Firearms may be issued to officers for a range of reasons including for operations against persons known or suspected to be armed, for protection duties and for putting down animals. The table gives information provided by forces for the number of operations against persons known or believed to be armed.

  Number of Operations Where Firearms were Issued Against Persons Known or Believed to be Armed

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Central Scotland
10
8
1
6
3


Dumfries and Galloway
6
3
15
11
6


Fife
5
5
6
8
13


Grampian
17
11
11
6
6


Lothian and Borders
66
94
96
165
197


Northern
7
10
5
0
1


Strathclyde
17
14
24
103
131


Tayside
13
5
5
1
1



  Source: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminal trials called (a) were adjourned to another day, (b) had a guilty plea tendered at any stage and (c) went ahead in each of the last five years.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Adjournment of trials can be for a variety of reasons, and usually on the motion of the Crown or Defence.

  Cases where evidence has been led and a guilty plea is tendered during the course of a trial are counted in the total for guilty plea tendered.

  Sheriff Court Summary Criminal Cases

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Called for trial
40,207
40,800
47,071
52,140
49,011


Adjourned
7,336
7,720
8,640
9,553
8,756


Guilty Plea 
9,708
10,032
11,955
14,174
13,344


Evidence Led
7,890
7,427
7,420
7,523
7,091



  Sheriff Court Solemn Criminal Cases

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Called for trial
1,924
2,301
2,280
2,456
2,750


Adjourned
362
484
498
521
625


Guilty Plea 
657
744
727
843
953


Evidence Led
797
882
802
754
852



  Sheriff Court - All Criminal Cases

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Called for trial
42,131
43,101
49,351
54,596
51,761


Adjourned
7,698
8,204
9,138
10,074
9,381


Guilty Plea 
10,365
10,776
12,682
15,017
14,297


Evidence Led
8,687
8,309
8,222
8,277
7,943

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases under sections 51, 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 have (a) been received, (b) had court proceedings taken and (c) had a charge proved in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the tables. Statistics dealing with cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than charge involving more than one report, while a report may be received in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges reported to the Fiscal may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.

  Cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal with One or More Charge(s) Under Sections 51, 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, 2002-03 and 2003-041

  

 
Financial Year of Receipt


2002-03
2003-04


Number of reports
145
190


Number of accused
150
194


Number of charges
339
405



  Note: Only incomplete information available for previous years.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Offences Under Sections 51, 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 19821, 1998-2002

  

 
Calendar Year of Outcome


1998
1999
2000
2001
20022


Total
20
13
23
24
29


Number with a charge proved
15
11
17
18
28



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Recording delays mean that cases where the charges were not proved may be under-stated in the totals for persons proceeded against.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of shoplifting in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Hugh Henry: The available information is given in the table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Shoplifting1, 1998–2002

  

Police Force Area
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002


Central
257
391
477
641
595


Dumfries and Galloway
109
135
195
176
212


Fife
384
451
480
518
446


Grampian
1,133
803
814
894
969


Lothian and Borders
1,258
1,166
1,194
1,172
1,335


Northern
213
216
163
208
254


Strathclyde
3,586
3,777
3,412
3,728
4,311


Tayside
671
710
684
786
809


Scotland
7,611
7,649
7,419
8,123
8,931



  Note: Where main offence.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of theft by housebreaking in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Hugh Henry: The available information is given in the table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Housebreaking1, 1998-2002

  

Police Force Area
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002


Central
102
139
109
160
154


Dumfries and Galloway
118
105
109
104
97


Fife
297
330
292
334
268


Grampian
469
470
429
415
352


Lothian and Borders
369
331
388
347
416


Northern
106
104
71
102
76


Strathclyde
1,293
1,358
1,096
1,075
1,122


Tayside
223
184
192
174
251


Scotland
2,977
3,021
2,686
2,711
2,736



  Note: Where main offence.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of theft from a motor vehicle in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Hugh Henry: Convictions for theft from a motor vehicle cannot generally be identified separately in the data held centrally from other convictions for theft by opening a lockfast place.

Justice

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions for theft of power supply there have been in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court district.

Hugh Henry: Theft of power supply is not a separate offence and any relevant cases cannot be identified separately from other convictions for theft in the data held centrally.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5251 by Hugh Henry on 15 January 2004, whether Dumbarton Sheriff Court has used restriction of liberty orders as a disposal.

Hugh Henry: As at 8 July 2004, two restriction of liberty orders had been imposed by Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Local Government Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9478 by Mr Andy Kerr on 30 June 2004, whether the local government finance review will be requested to complete its work within a particular timescale and, if so, what that timescale will be.

Mr Andy Kerr: We have set no specific target date for the completion of the review but I currently expect it to take between one and two years to complete.

Local Government Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation on the review of local government funding finance will commence.

Mr Andy Kerr: The work programme of the Independent Review of Local Government Finance (including consultation) will be for the members of the review team to consider. The review team can then set out how best people and organisations can engage with the review.

Local Government Funding

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the anomaly whereby Orkney Islands Council’s Aggregate External Finance settlement provides 20% less funding per head of population than either Western Isles or Shetland Islands Councils.

Mr Andy Kerr: The current grant distribution methodology takes into account a wide range of factors influencing the costs of delivering services in different areas of Scotland, including island communities. This results in different councils receiving different levels of funding per head of population. In the case of Orkney Islands Council, it receives over 20% less per head than Eilean Siar or Shetland but over 46% more than any mainland council.

  The distribution methodology has been agreed with COSLA and the local authorities, including Orkney, following extensive and collective consultation over a number of years. Any changes to the current distribution methodology must be agreed through the appropriate mechanism, the Executive’s discussions with COSLA.

Ministerial Visits

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all overseas engagements carried out by Ministers and the costs of these visits in 2003-04.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  The cost given for each visit includes all flight, accommodation and other expenses.

  Engagements marked * were at zero cost to the Executive; the costs of members’ attendance at Committee of the Regions meetings are paid for by the Committee of the Regions.

  Before any overseas engagement is approved, it must represent good value for the Executive and the taxpayer.

  Overseas Engagements Carried Out by Scottish Executive Ministers During the Financial Year 2003-04

  

Date of Visit
End date
(if different)
Location
Event
Minister(s)
Cost of Minister’s Travel and Subsistence
(£)


29/03/2004 
30/03/2004 
Belgium 
Attended a Justice and Home Affairs Council and met with a number of Member State Interior Ministers.
Cathy Jamieson
589.70


22/03/2004 
23/03/2004 
Belgium 
Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Alan Wilson
872.90


22/03/2004 
23/03/2004 
France 
Gave address to the Spring session of the CLRAE Chamber of Regions on the work of REGLEG.
Jack McConnell
1,450.72


19/03/2004 
20/03/2004 
Estonia 
Attended the launch of the UK "Crossroads of Ideas" campaign.
Tavish Scott
1,154.66


20/02/2004 
23/02/2004 
China 
Attended the 9th China International Education Exhibition. Also undertook a number of education and SDI related visits and meetings.
Lewis Macdonald
4,178.27


18/02/2004 
19/02/2004 
Belgium 
Attended conference titled "Districts of Creativity meet @ Flanders" organised by the Flanders regional government. Led delegation comprising representatives of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish business.
Lewis Macdonald
706.50


17/02/2004 
19/02/2004 
France 
Meeting with French Ministers Sarkozy, Plagnol and Lenoir; launch of Entente Cordiale; and SDI related meetings.
Jack McConnell
1,457.03


16/02/2004 
19/02/2004
USA 
Undertook a series of visits and meetings about the US criminal justice process and discussed the system with those managing and delivering the service.
Cathy Jamieson
5,635.20


11/02/2004 
12/02/2004 
Belgium 
Attended a meeting of the Committee of the Regions.
Nicol Stephen
0.00*


01/02/2004 
02/02/2004 
Norway 
Met Mr Sven Ludvigsen, the Norwegian Fisheries Minister to discuss finding alternative solutions to trade protection measures.
Alan Wilson
160


22/01/2004 
23/01/2004 
Portugal 
Attended a conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe. Also discussed the future of structural funds with similar European sub-Member State government, region and Member State representatives.
Lewis Macdonald
943.40


19/01/2004 
20/01/2004 
Belgium 
Launched the "New Europe" film series in Scotland House. Also met Viviane Reding EU Commissioner for Education and Culture, Paul Dujardin, Director of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, and Mr Jelle Bakker, Director of European Bureau for Less-Used Languages.
Frank McAveety
397.70


11/01/2004 
17/01/2004 
USA 
Visited Boston, New York and Houston and undertook series of meetings, and visits across the electronics, life sciences, financial services and energy sectors; 
Undertook a series of interviews and met a number of Scottish companies operating in USA. Attended the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture at the United Nations with Secretary General Kofi Annan. Presented awards at the Scottish Space School graduation ceremony in Houston.
Jim Wallace
5,276.25


15/12/2003 
18/12/2003 
Belgium 
Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Ross Finnie
1,047.89


08/12/2003 
09/12/2003 
Belgium 
Visited Scotland House, met some Scottish MEPs and visited UKRep. Also met with representatives of the accession countries based in Brussels.
Tavish Scott
673.26


30/11/2003 
02/12/2003 
Ireland 
Visited the Dublin Docklands Development Corporation, the Irish Planning Appeals Board and a regeneration project. Attended a St Andrews Day reception onboard HMS Ocean and had dinner with Noel Ahern TD and Mary Coughlan TD.
Margaret Curran 
Mary Mulligan
697


26/11/2003 
27/11/2003 
Belgium 
Attended an EU Competitiveness Council, met with Scottish MEPs and Commissioner Barnier.
Jim Wallace
613.37


26/11/2003 
27/11/2003 
Italy 
Attended an Inter-Institutional conference organised as part of the Italian Presidency of the EU.
Tavish Scott
798


24/11/2003 
 
Belgium 
Attended the Committee of the Regions Constitutional Affairs Commission.
Nicol Stephen
117.10


24/11/2003 
 
Belgium 
Attended a meeting with Commissioner Fischler and Ben Bradshaw, the UK Fisheries Minister.
Ross Finnie
611.34


24/11/2003 
25/11/2003 
Belgium 
Attended an Education Council.
Peter Peacock
1069.46


17/11/2003 
18/11/2003 
Belgium 
Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Ross Finnie
757.06


10/11/2003 
12/11/2003 
Austria 
Attended the REGLEG Ministers-Presidents conference. 
Jack McConnell
1,014.52


10/11/2003 
11/11/2003 
Belgium 
Attended a Competitiveness Council. Also met a number of MEPs, John Grant the Head of UKRep, and representatives from the Commission. Also visited Scotland Europa, and took part in Remembrance day events in Ypres.
Andy Kerr
800.70


02/11/2003 
03/11/2003 
France 
Attended a symposium on social affairs.
Margaret Curran
1,191.76


03/11/2003 
04/11/2003 
Netherlands/ Belgium
Attended a ceremony in The Hague ratifying the Hague Convention on Protection of Adults. 
In Brussels met with Europol and Commission officials to discuss the EU Justice and Home Affairs agenda.
Hugh Henry
735.82


31/10/2003 
03/11/2003 
USA 
Attended "dressed to Kilt" event as part of LA Fashion Week. Also undertook a series of visits and meetings to promote Scottish culture and film.
Frank McAveety
2,577.94


26/10/2003 
27/10/2003 
Luxembourg 
Attended an Environment Council.
Ross Finnie
815


23/10/2003 
24/10/2003 
Belgium 
Attended a meeting with Regional Environment Ministers and Commissioner Wallstrom.
Alan Wilson
438.60


19/10/2003 
22/10/2003 
Italy 
Belgium 
Attended Informal Council meeting on Regional Policy in Rome and held series of meetings in Brussels.
Jack McConnell
2,432.19


20/10/2003 
22/10/2003 
Italy 
Represented the Executive at the Consistory to mark the Elevation of Archbishop Keith Patrick O’Brien to Cardinal.
Patricia Ferguson
1,470.03


20/10/2003 
27/10/2003 
Japan/ Malaysia/
Singapore 
Undertook a series of company meetings and visits regarding life sciences, nanotechnology, Higher Education, textiles, and techmedia. Also opened the SDI's new Singapore incubator for Scottish companies.
Jim Wallace
6,862.52


08/10/2003 
09/10/2003 
Belgium 
Attended a Committee of the Regions meeting.
Nicol Stephen
127


17/09/2003 
19/09/2003 
Germany 
Attended a Ministerial meeting on the Bologna Process for Higher Education reform in Europe.
Lewis Macdonald
1,201.69


17/09/2003 
21/09/2003 
Spain 
Undertook a series of promotion of Scotland events as part of the Executive’s co-operation agreement with Catalonia.
Jim Wallace, 
Frank McAveety
2,163.71


27/08/2003 
30/08/2003 
Morocco 
Attended the World Congress on Youth.
Euan Robson
1,227


22/08/2003 
29/08/2003 
Netherlands 
Attended the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law conference.
Colin Boyd
1,070


19/08/2003 
21/08/2003 
Sweden 
Fact-finding visit to look at the Swedish integrated services for offenders.
Cathy Jamieson
1,205.20


09/08/2003 
13/08/2003 
USA 
Attended the International Association of Prosecutors Annual Conference. Also visited Red Hook Community project, New York.
Elish Angiolini
4,318.67


13/07/2003 
14/07/2003 
Belgium 
Met Commission President Romano Prodi, Commissioners Neil Kinnock and Margot Wallstrom, and Bart Somers, the Minister President of Flanders. Also met Sir Nigel Sheinwald, and attended a Committee of the Regions Constitution Committee.
Jack McConnell
727.2


07/07/2003 
08/07/2003 
Belgium 
Attended conference on Cohesion and Constitution – the Roles and Responsibilities of the Regions. 
Lewis Macdonald
535.7


02/07/2003 
03/07/2003 
Belgium 
Attended a meeting of the Committee of the Regions.
Nicol Stephen
48.82


25/06/2003 
26/06/2003 
Luxembourg 
Attended continuing Agriculture, Fisheries Council
Ross Finnie
930.8


24/06/2003
27/06/2003 
USA 
Attended the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC and opened Scottish Development International’s office in Boston.
Frank McAveety
2,862.20


17/06/2003 
20/06/2003 
Luxembourg 
Attended continuing Agriculture, Fisheries Council
Ross Finnie
1,130.30


15/06/2003 
17/06/2003 
Italy 
Attended launch of European Code Against Cancer and International Symposium on Cancer care.
Malcolm Chisholm
1,251.54


11/06/2003 
13/06/2003 
Luxembourg 
Attended an Agriculture, Fisheries Council, and also an Environment Council.
Ross Finnie
915


23/05/2003 
26/05/2003 
Belgium 
Attended International Bar Association meeting. 
Colin Boyd
789.41


24/04/2003 
 
Belgium 
Met with Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy.
Allan Wilson
524


11/04/2003 
18/04/2003 
Australia 
Attended Commonwealth Law conference.
Colin Boyd
4,108.50


07/04/2003 
08/04/2003 
Luxembourg 
Attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Ross Finnie
956.46


Total
 
 
 
 
73,638.37

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated cost is of policing the G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Hugh Henry: At this stage, it is too early to say what the policing cost of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles will be. This will depend on a range of factors, some of which will not become clear until nearer the time.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility for policing the G8 summit at Gleneagles will fall entirely on Scottish police forces and, if not, what percentage of overall responsibility will be borne by other parts of the UK.

Hugh Henry: Police officers from across the UK are expected to be on duty for the G8 Summit at Gleneagles. Overall responsibility for policing within the Tayside Police area is a matter for the Chief Constable of Tayside Police. Tayside Police will call on mutual aid from other police forces in Scotland and in the rest of the UK, as appropriate, and planning for this is in hand.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for meeting the cost of policing at the G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Hugh Henry: The UK Government has agreed to make available extra funds to the Scottish Executive to help meet the agreed additional policing costs arising from the G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Police

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether policing levels in local communities across Scotland will be maintained at their usual levels during the G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Hugh Henry: Operational policing is a matter for individual Chief Constables. While an event of the nature of the G8 Summit will clearly require a significant police presence, there is at this stage no reason to believe that police cover in Tayside or elsewhere in Scotland during the event will be reduced below what is operationally appropriate.

Public Appointments

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were appointed to public bodies in each of the last five years and, of these, how many had been involved in political activity in the five years preceding their appointment.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-20118 (answered on 26 March 2002), S1W-24411 (answered on 17 April 2002) and S1W-25468 (answered on 30 April 2002) which explain why annual data for part of the period in question is not available.

  Information from 1 April 2001 is as follows:

  

Period
Appointments
(Including Reappointments)
No of Appointees Declaring a Political Activity


1 April 2001 – 31 March 2002
273
65


1 April 2002 – 31 March 2003
253
61


1 April 2003 – 31 March 2004
220
32

Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all transport capital projects (a) completed since 1999 and costing more than £1 million, showing the final cost of each project and (b) under construction with an estimated cost of more than £1 million, showing the estimated final cost of each project.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Nicol Stephen: The following tables list those transport capital projects completed since 1999 (first table) and now under construction (second table) for which the Scottish Executive contribution exceeded £1 million. Other bodies (for example local authorities and Strathclyde Passenger Transport) also implement transport capital projects. A number of major capital projects set out in the Partnership Agreement such as the airport rail links, Edinburgh trams and the Airdrie to Bathgate and Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine rail projects are not included as they have not yet moved into the construction phase.

  Projects completed since 1999:

  

Programme
Project
SE (£m) Contribution
Others (£m) Contributions
Total (£m)


Piers and Harbours
Eigg
4.06
3.60
7.66


Rum/Muck
3.80
3.55
7.35


Lerwick/Holmsgarth
1.38
2.22
3.60


MV Hebrides Vessel
11.39
3.80
15.19


MV Loch Nevis
3.32
2.51
5.83


Integrated Transport Fund
Broxden Park and Ride (Perth)
1.18
1.28
2.46


Edinburgh Crossrail
8.50
2.50
11.00


Eriskay Causeway
4.10
5.78
9.88


Falkirk Wheel Park and Ride
1.60
1.13
2.73


Freight Facilities Grant
New Cumnock, East Ayrshire
2.55
0.38
2.93


Grangemouth
3.23
8.49
11.72


Rosyth
(Rosyth – Zeebrugge Ferry)
10.97
0.70
11.67


Mossend, Lanarkshire
1.88
0.63
2.51



  Projects under construction and estimated to be over £1 million:

  

Programme
Project
SE (£m) Contribution
Others (£m) Contributions
Total (£m)


Piers and Harbours
Hatston/Stromness
18.52
26.33
44.85


Scrabster Harbour
15.68
5.50
21.18


Oban Terminal
2.16
2.88
5.04


Port Askaig
1.00
8.35
9.35


Integrated Transport Fund
Dunoon Pier Breakwater and Linkspan
4.50
1.49
5.99


Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure
2.50
3.53
6.03


Re-opening Larkhall-Milngavie Rail Line
25
9.5
34.5


Livingston Fastlink
4.04
2.06
6.10


West Edinburgh Busways Scheme
6.59
3.41
10.00


Platform Lengthening programme (various schemes)
18.75
3.20
21.95


Freight Facilities Grant
Grangemouth
10.04
1.97
12.01


Greenburn, East Ayrshire
3.89
2.60
6.49


Powharnal, East Ayrshire
9.75
3.97
13.72

Water Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has confidence in the Water Industry Commissioner.

Ross Finnie: The Water Industry Commissioner has shown himself to be an effective economic regulator by providing detailed comparative analysis of the performance of Scottish Water and its predecessor bodies in, for example, such key areas as capital procurement, capital maintenance and operational efficiency and by setting efficiency targets for 2002-06 which are already delivering £1 million per week in operational savings.

Water Safety

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost would be of eliminating lead piping from all water supplies to properties.

Ross Finnie: The cost of eliminating all lead pipes in Scottish Water’s ownership that connect the public distribution network to individual properties has been estimated by Scottish Water to be £450 million.

Water Safety

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) public and (b) private sector properties require replacement of domestic lead piping.

Ross Finnie: Figures are not available for the number of public and private sector properties that require the replacement of domestic lead piping. However, between January 2000 and December 2002 Scottish Water took approximately 30,000 water samples from customers’ taps and tested them for lead. Statistical interpretation of the test results suggests that approximately 400,000 properties across Scotland (17%) have some lead piping and/or are connected to the water main with lead piping.

  This estimate should be treated with caution, due to the small number of samples taken in some water supply zones.

Water Safety

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost would be of eliminating lead piping from all (a) domestic and (b) private water supplies.

Ross Finnie: The cost of replacing lead piping is property specific. The cost of eliminating lead piping from all domestic and private water supplies in Scotland is therefore unknown.

Water Safety

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently served by lead water piping in domestic properties.

Ross Finnie: Based on the assumption in the answer given to question S2W-9749 on 12 August 2004, that approximately 400,000 properties across Scotland have some lead piping, it can be estimated that approximately 1 million people are currently served by lead water piping in domestic properties.